Every Friday night we make the transition from our fast paced work week to the serenity of Shabbos through the recital of Kabblas Shabbos. These selected chapters of Tehillim are a relatively recent innovation, dating back to the 16th Century Kabbalists of Tzefat. The fact that within a relatively short period of time this service achieved near universal acceptance is testimony to the esteem in which the Jewish people held the Arizal and his contemporaries.
Although we recite these chapters weekly, we rarely have the opportunity to do more than glance at the translation, let alone delve into the themes and messages of these beautiful chapters.
Over the coming weeks and months, I hope, with Hashem’s help to shed some light on these chapters so that we can all appreciate them as we say them on Friday evening. In doing so we will also keep the light of Shabbos with us on a daily basis.
Stay tuned for the first instalment tomorrow.
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